Game apparatus



@et 29 1934., D, Q ROCKOLA 1,975,374

GAME vAPPARATUS Filed April 14, 1934 4 Shees-Sheet 1 Y Y. 'l L LntslavidCRockla 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Get. 2, 1934. n. c. RocKoLA GAME APPARATUSFiled April 14, 1934 D. C. ROCKOLA GAME APPARATUS CLZ, 1934.

Filed April 14, 1934 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 @amd C. Rodo/a INVENTOR.

HIS ATTORNEYS Wzfness.-

@cih 2, H934., D.' c. ROCKOLA GAME APPARATUS Filed April 14, 1934 4Sheets-Sheet 4 David C Radda INVENTOR.

BY WMM? Sym H15 ATTORNEYS Patented Oct. 2, 1934 I `UNilizD STATES PATENTOFFICEv This invention relates to a game apparatus.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved game apparatuswhich is relatively simple andV inexpensive in construction andetlicient inuse. v

Objects of the present invention are: to improve generally upon thebaseball gameapparatus described and claimed in the aforementionedSwenson application; to provide a new and improved baseball gameapparatus which-is so comstructed that a greater variety of successivecombinations of baseball plays may be obtained by the player in playingthe present apparatus than is possible in the prior art gameapparatusesincluding the Swenson game apparatus; to construct the newgame apparatus in such a manner that after the player has made threeouts the operating mechanisms of the apparatus are positively andmechanically latched or locked against further operation by meansassociated with the ou register and' remain locked until such time asthe player inserts another coin of proper denomination into the coinaperture of the coin slide and operates the latter; to provide in thenew game apparatus a novel arrangement of an audible signal below thatfout openings in the playing board so that an audible signal is actuatedevery time a ball drops through an out opening so as to indicate thatfact to the player; to provide a ball-actuated operating means for theout" registering device; to provide a new and improved tell-taledeviceto inform the'owner or lessee of the game apparatus when theA player hasattempted to operate the 'game apparatus fraudulently by tilting thesame from its normal proper operating position; to provide a novel meansfor ejectingall of the balls out of the ball seat openings intherotatable diamond or disc if the player attempts to operate the gameapparatus fraudulently by tilting the same from its normal and properoperating position; to provide means for preventing the balls fromrolling back over the rotatable disc after the same have been ejectedfrom their ball seat openings and swept off from the disc at the homebase position; to provide a novel ball-actuated means for operating therotatable disc so as to advance the balls therewith around the diamond;to provide a novel means associated with said disc and controlling said`operating means in such a manner as to determine the duration of therotation of the disc, that is, the circumferential distance that thedisc will rotate or travel every time a hitf is made and a ball engagedin a ball seat opening in the disc, and consequently the scoring valueof the' hit;

to provide a novel ball elevating device, including means for preventinga ball/from being fraudulently elevated from the Vball storage magazineto the playing surface; and to provide the game apparatus and thevarious combinations and sub- 30 combinations thereof hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel combination and arrangement of partsto be hereinafter described and claimed.

' The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, showing the preferred form of Vconstruction and in which:

Fig. 14 is a top plan view of a preferred form of the new gameapparatus; I

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, vertical sectional view of thesame on line2.--2 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the rotatable disc(,diagrammatically) and showing certain of the mechanisms for rotatingsaid disc and for controlling its rotation;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view on line 4--4- 'in Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on line 5-5-in Fig.

' 1 showing the new tell-tale device;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the new tell-tale device;

` operation of the rotatable disc;

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view on line 12-12 in Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a vertical sectional view showing the means for elevating theballs one at a time-from the ball magazine to the playing surface andshowing the means for locking the ball elevating means against furtheroperation after three outs" have been registered on the out registeringdevice;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary top plan view on line 14-14 in Fig. 13 showingthe means for locking the ball elevator against further operation afterthree outs have been registered on the ou registering device, andshowing certain of the parts by which movement of the ball elevatingslide rod tensions the operating spring for the rotatable disc;

Fig. 15 is a sectional detail view on line 15-15 in Fig. 14; and

Fig. 16 is a sectional detail view on line 16-16 in Fig. 14.

A preferred form of the new game apparatus is shown in the drawings andcomprises a cabinet 13 in which is arranged a member 14, the upper sideof which provides an inclined playing surface 15.

Coextensive with and encircling the inclined playing surface 15 is aball runway or ramp 16 and this ramp 16 opens at one end, as at 17, Fig.1, out onto the playing surface 15. Mounted in the cabinet 13 so as toproject balls one at a time up and around the ramp 16 onto the playingsurface 15 is a ball projecting or propelling device in the form of aplunger 19. Batlle pins 18 are arranged upon the playing surface 15 soas to deflect the balls passing thereover and increase the hazards ofthe game.

Arranged upon the playing surface 15 and converging toward each other inthe direction of the lower end of the inclined playing surface 15 aretwo guide rails 20 and 21. These guide rails 20 and 21 direct the ballsrolling clown the playing surface 15 into out openings 22 and 23 whichare formed in the inclined playing board 14 so as to drop the out ballstherethrough into an inclined ball runway 24 which is arranged below theplaying board 14. This ball runway 24 has a magazine portion 112 (Fig.9) by which the played balls are fed back to the ball-elevating device,generally indicated at 161, and operation of which elevates the playedballs one at a time up onto the ramp 16 in front of the plunger 19.

Formed upon the playing surface 15, between the two out exit openings 22and 23 are a strike pocket 25, a ball pocket 26, and a hit runway 27,the sides of the hit runway 27 being formed by parallel guide rails 35which are arranged between the strike and ball pockets 25 and 26,respectively.

Balls entering the strike 'and ball pockets 25 and 26, respectively, areheld therein by a pivotal platform or trap door 28 which forms thebottom walls of these pockets, the side walls of the pockets 25 and 26being formed by upstanding, vertical walls 29 and 30 which are arrangedupon the playing surface 15.

The pivotal platform or trap door 28 is pivotally mounted between itsends, as at 32, (Fig. 7) and tends to pivot (counter-clockwise, fromdotted to full line position, Fig. 7) under the weight of a ball orballs 23 resting thereon in either the strike pocket 25 or the ballpocket 26, or both, so as to discharge the balls out of said pocketsinto the ball runway 24 which is arranged below the playing board 14 forreturn to the ball magazine portion 112 of the runway 24, from which theballs are elevated to the ramp 16 by the elevator 161. However, ballsentering the hit runway 27 pass therealong over a portion 153 of thepivotal platform 28 (Fig. 7) and thence pass over a bridge 31 (Figs. 1and 7), by which balls passing down the hit runway 27 are prevented frompivoting the platform 28. Thus the-balls entering the hit runway 27 areguided and conducted to a rotatable disc 34 which is mounted in acircular cut-out opening 46 that is formed in the lower end portion ofthe inclined playing board 14; the upper surface of the disc 34 beingsubstantially flush with, or in the same plane as the playing surface15.

The pivotal platform or trap door 28 is normally latched in horizontalposition (dotted line position, Fig. 7) by a latch member 36 which ispivotally mounted in the cabinet 13 below the playing surface 15, as at37; the platform 28 being held in horizontal position by the latchingengagement of a heel portion 38 of the latch member 36 with, and under,the peripheral edge portion 39 of the platform 28.

The latch member 36 includes a trip portion 40 which projects above theplaying surface 15 through a slot 41 formed in the inclined playingboard 14. A ball passing along the hit runway 27 engages the tripportion 40 of the latch member 36 and pivots the same (counterclockwise,Figs. 7 and 8), thus disengaging the heel portion 38 of the latch member36 from latching engagement with the peripheral edge portion 39 of theplatform 28, whereupon the platform 28 pivots (counterclockwise, Figs. 7and 8) under the weight of any ball or balls held thereby in the strikeand ball pockets 25 and 26 respectively, and thus discharges all of theballs from the strike and ball pockets 25 and 26 respectively into theball runway 24, for return to the ball elevator 25; this operationtaking place every time a ball passes through the hit runway 27.

A ball played into the hit runway 27 passes therefrom onto the rotatabledisc 34 whereon it lodges in that particular one of four ball seatopenings or pockets 42 formed in the disc 34, 90 apart, which happens tobe positioned at the mouth of the hit runway 27 when the ball emergestherefrom; the ball thus scoring a hit being stopped inthe home baseopening 42 of the disc 34 by an angled end portion 43 of a rod 44 thatprojects above the disc 34 in a chordal plane relative thereto (Fig. 1).

Mounted on the playing surface 15 and projecting above the disc 34 atthe three points corresponding to first, second and third bases arethree yieldable spring members or buffers 45 which prevent the balls inthe corresponding ball seat openings or pockets 42` from jumpingrupwardly out of the same during the starting and stopping operations ofthe disc 34 (Fig. 1).

'I'he played balls which pass through the out openings 22 and 23 fallonto a member 47-48 which actuates an out register, to indicate to theplayer that the ball has registered an ou 'I'he register actuatingmember 47--48 is xedly mounted upon a rock shaft 52 which is arrangedbelow the playing surface 15. When a ball drops through either of theout openings 22 or 23, it strikes the transverse portion 47 of the outregister actuating member 48 and rotates the latter (clockwise, Fig. 8)and the ball 33 is discharged therefrom (Fig. 7) tinto engagement withan audible signal bell 49, two of which are arranged below the playingsurface 15, one under each of the out openings 22 and 23, and each ofwhich has a portion 50 that projects into the runway 24 through anopening 51 formed in the latter, thereby sounding an audible signal toinform the player that the played ball has registered an out So as toinform the player at every stage of the game how many balls have passedthrough the out openings 22 and 23, there is provided in the presentapparatus, in association with said out openings 22 and 23, an outregistering device which is generally indicated at 53 (Fig. 4).

This out registering device comprises a segmental registering dial 54,the upper and indiciabearing surface of which is visible through a sightopening 55 that is formed in a housing 56 arranged upon the playingsurface 15; f

The ou registering dial 54 isV fixedly mount-4 ed upon, or is fast upon,a transverse horizontal rock shaft 57 which is arranged, below theplayingsurface 15 above and parallel to the rock shaft 52. et 58, (Fig.4) and having an escapement engagement with this ratchet 58 is anescapement pawl o'r dog 59 which is carried by and xedly mounted uponthe rock shaft 52. f

When the register actuating member 47-48 is pivoted downwardly (Fig. 7)by the action of a ball falling thereupon from one of the out openings22 and 23, the rock shaft 52 and its attached p'awl 58 are rotated(clockwise, Fig. 8; counterclockwise, Fig. 4), thereby permitting theratchet 58, the shaft 57 and the registering dial 54 to rotate a partialrevolution (clockwise, Fig. 4) under the action of the spring 60,A so asto indicate upon the dial 54 through the sight open`v ing 55, the totalnumber of outs made by the player at every stage of the game.

The spring 60 which operates the registering dial 54 has one endattached to'a slide bar 61 that is slidably mountedupon the bottom ofthe inclined playing board 14 (Figs. 4 and 9), the

.other end of the dial-operating spring 60 being attached to a lateralextension or arm 63 of the frame of the registering'dial 54 (Fig. 4).

The operating slide bar 61 has an angled end portion 64 which isengageable by the inner end of the coin slide 62 so that when a coin ofproper denomination is inserted into the coin aperture of the coin slide62 and the latter is pushed inwardly (left to right, Fig. 9), the slidebar 61-64 is moved therewith, whereupon a depending extension 66 of theslide bar 61 engages the lateral extension 63 of the out registeringdial 54 and thereby rotates or resets the latter (countervclockwise,Fig. 4) back to zero position, at the same time tensioning the dialoperating spring 60, the dial 54 being held in its reset position,

pending operation, by engagement of the pawl 59 with the teeth 58 of theratchet 53.

The strike pocket 25 and the ball pocket 26 are automatically-clearedwhenever a ball enters one of the out openings 22 or 23. To this end thefollowing arrangement is provided: the ou register actuating member47-48 has an upright extension or arm 67 (Figs. 7 and 8) and the latchmember 36 has a. lateral extension 68, these parts 67 and 68 beingdisposed relative to each other, in dotted line position (Fig. 7) whenthe trip portion 40 of-the latch member 36 projects through the slot 41into the hit runway 27, the latch member 36 being held in this positionby its counterweighted arm 154. When thelatch member 36 is in thisposition, the heel portion 38 is disposed under, and in latchingengagement with, the peripheral edge portion 39 of the platform or trap28 and the latter is thus held or supported in horizontal position(dotted lines, Fig. 7).

However, when a ball falls through one of the ou openings 22 or 23 ontothe register actuating member- 47- 48, the latter is pivoted bythe ball(clockwise, Figs. 7 and 8) so as to actuate the "out register dial 54,and' this movement of the register actuating member 47-48 causes theupright extension 67 thereof to engage and exertV Carried by the rockshaft 57 is a ratch.

of the ballor balls (in the strike or ba1l' pockets 25 and 26,respectively) pivots the platform 28 (counterclockwise, into full lineposition, Fig. 7), whereupon the ball or balls retained by the platform28 roll therefrom down into the ball runway casting 24 for return to thelower end and magazine portion 112 thereof; the platform 28 beingreturned to horizontal position by the action of its counterweighted endportion 152 (Fig. 7).

The strike pocket 25'is designed to hold two balls so that if the playerhas scored two strikes and a third ball enters the inlet to the strikepocket 25 it will overflow therefrom and be deected laterally therefrom,by the second and outer ball therein, through a passageway 69 (Fig. 1)into the out opening 22.

Likewise, if four balls have accumulated in the ball pocket 26 vand afifth ball enters the inlet to the ball pocket it will overflowtherefrom and be deected laterally therefrom by the fourth and outermostor last ball received therein; the

thus deflected ball passing from the ball" pocket latch member 71 isrockably or pivotally mounted between its ends upon a shaft 72, and theshaft '72 is mounted upon an extension 94 from the hub of four radiallyarranged supporting arms 88 (Fig. 3) which are arranged below the disc34 and are attached at their outer endsto the bottom side of the playingboard 14. This latch member 71 has a counterweighted radially inner endportion 73 that is adapted to ride the upper edges of a series ofradially arranged latch cams or latch keepers v74 (Fig. 3) so as to keepthe radially outer end portion of the latch ymember 71 raised up towardthe bottom surface of the disc 34 and into the path of a series of fourstop members 155 which are radially arranged 90 apart, on the bottomsurface of the disc 34 and project -downwardly therefrom (Figs. 11 and12) the radially outer end portion of this latch member 7l beingnormallyraised up toward the bottom surface of the disc 34 into the path of thestops 155 by its counterweighted radially inner end portion 73 (usingthe term radially" relativeI I .surface of a gear 75 which is rotatablymountedbelow the disc 34, as at 76, upon the supporting member 94, andthe circumferential lengths of these latch keepers 74 vary so as to varythe time during which the counterweighted radially inner end portion 73of the latch member 71 is held raised thereby and consequently the timeduring which the radially outer end portion of the latch member 71 isvthus held depressed out of' the path of the stops 155 on the disc 34, aswill be explained more fully hereinafter, in connection with theoperation of the present game apparatus; This variation in thecircumferential lengths of the latch keepers or latch cams '74, and theconsequent length of time during which the radially outer end portion ofthe latch member '71 is held depressed out of the path of the stops 155on the disc 34, determines the duration of rotation of the disc y34 andthe circumferential distance traveled by the disc 34 and the ballscarried thereby in the ball seat openings 42, thus determining how manybases the balls on the disc 34 are advanced when a ball enters the hitrunway 2'7 and rolls onto the disc 34. The balls carried by the disc' 34in the ball seat pockets or openings 42 are ejected upwardly therefromby an ejector 159 arranged upon the support. 160 (Fig. 3) adjacent thehome base opening 42 and below the disc 34. This ejector 159 lies in thepath of the balls as they approach the "home base position and they areraised upwardly thereby out of their ball seat pockets 42, being finallyswept ol the disc 34 by an extension 156 of one of the rails 35 whichform the sides of the hit runway 27 (Fig. l1).

When a ball 33 rolls down the hit runway 2'7 onto the disc 34 it entersthe home base opening 42 in the disc 34 and bears downwardly upon theradially outer end portion of the latch member '7l (Fig. 11), therebypivoting the latch member l'71 (counterclockwise, from dotted to fullline position, Fig. 11), and thus depressing the radially outer endportion of the latch member '71 below and out of the path of the stops155, thus permitting the disc 34 to rotate under the action of itsoperating spring 93 (Fig. 3). This rotation of the disc 34 continuesuntil the counterweighted radially inner end portion '73 of the latchmember '71 rides down off the underlying latch keeper or cam 74,whereupon the counterweighted radially inner end portion '73 of thelatch member '71 drops by gravity away from the disc 34 and therebypivots the radially outer end portion of the latchmember '71 (from fullto dotted line position, clockwise, Fig. 11) up toward the bottom of thedisc 34 into the path of the stops 155 so as to be engaged by the latterand thus to stop the rotation of the disc 34.

Rotatably journaled below the disc 34 at the hub or intersection of thesupporting arms '7'7 is a vertical shaft '78 upon the upper end portionof which the disc 34 is mounted (Fig. 11). Fixedly mounted upon thisshaft '78 below the disc 34 is a star gear rI9 and floating, that isrotatably mounted upon, the shaft '78 below the star gear 79 is a piniongear 80, a supporting disc 81 being fast orxedly mounted upon the shaft'78 between the star gear '79 and the pinion gear 80. This disc 81 has alateral or peripheral flange 82 (Figs. 10 and 11) upon which ispivotally mounted a pawl or dog 83 which is urged into engagement withthe pinion gear by means of aspring 84.

Pivotally mounted at its radially outer end, as at 85, (Fig. 3) betweena pair of horizontally extending supporting arms 86 and 92 that projectradially outward-ly from the hub of the arms 7'7, is a lever 8'7, bymeans of which the operation and energy storing spring 93 for the disc34 is tensioned, in a manner to be described presently. vTo this end thelever 8'7 has a rack 88 of teeth 89 at'its radially inner end, and theseteeth 89 mesh with the teeth of the pinion gear 80.

Provided in the rack 88 is an arcuate slot 90 into which projects aguide member 91 that is carried by the supporting arm 92. Having one fend attached to the rack lever 8'7 and having its other end fixed to theplaying board 14, at the bottom side of the latter is the operatingspring 93 for the disc 34.

Pivotally mounted between its ends, as at 1'71, (Fig. 12) upon theextension 160 of the supporting arms '77, at the bottom side of thelatter, is a bumper 162 (Figs. 3 and 12) and having one end attached tothis bumper 162 is a spring 95 (Figs. 3 and l2), the other end of whichis attached to the supporting arm 86; the bumper 94 having a verticalextension 1'72 at its other end, and this extension 172 lying in thepath of the radially outer end portion of the latch member '71. When theradially outer end portion of the latch member '7l abuts one of thestops 155 to stop the rotation of the disc 34, it rebounds slightly dueto this abrupt stopping action and strikes against 'the vertical arm1'72 of the bumper 162, thereby pivoting the latter (counterclockwise,Fig, 3) against the action of the spring 95 which thus acts as a bulTerto take up the rebound of the latch member-'71.

The ball seat openings 42 which correspond to first, second and thirdbases, are cleared of any balls remaining therein, at the start of eachgame, by an ejector generally indicated at 9'7 (Fig. 3). This ejector9'7 likewise functions, as will be explained more fully hereinafter, todislodge the balls from the ball seat openings 42 which correspond tofirst, second and third bases, should the player attempt to operate thegame apparatus fraudulently by tilting the same out of its normal andproper operating position.

The ejector 9'7 isapproximately V-shaped and includes two intersectingarms 98 and 99 (Fig. 3) These arms 98 and 99 are pivotally mounted, asat 108 and 159, respectively, upon extensions 100 of the supporting arms'7'7. Formed on the arms 98 and 99 of the ejector 97 are three upwardlyextending ball ejecing fingers 101 which are adapted to be projectedinto the three ball seat openings or pockets 42 in the disc 34which'correspond to first, second and third bases, so as to dislodge theballs therefrom, in a manner to be described presently.

Projecting laterally from an extension 102 of the arm 98 of the ballejector 97 (Figs. 3, 4 and 9) is a cam roller 103 with which isengageable a cam 104 that is formed on and depends from the slidableoperating bar 61. When the coin slide 62 is pushed inwardly, (left toright, Fig. 1) at the siart of each game, the slide bar 61-64 isslidably shifted (left to right, Fig. 1; right to left, Fig. 4), andthis motion of the slide bar 61--64 causes the cam 104 to engage theroller 103, thus pivoting the roller 103, the extension 102 of the arm98 and the ejector 97 itself, (counterclockwise, Figs. 3 and 4) upon thepivots 108 and 159. This motion of the ejector 9'7 projects the fingers101 of the same upwardly through the three ball seat openings 42 in thedisc 34 correlspending to rst, second and third bases and thus dislodgestherefrom any balls remaining therein at the start of the game.

Pivotally mounted upon' the extension 102 of arm 98, as at 105, (Fig. 4)is a quadrant 106 in which is formed a slot 10'7. Projecting into thisslot 10'7 is a headed pin 108 (Fig. 3) which is carried by one of thesupporting members 100 and provides one of the two pivotal mountingsvfor the ball ejector 97. Having one end attached to the extension 102of' arm 98 and having its Should the coin slide 62 and the slidableoperat-- ing bar 61-64 be pushed inwardly so as to engage the cam 104with the cam roller 103 and thereby pivot the ejector 97 upwardly towardthe disc 34 when the three ball seat openings 42 in the disc 34corresponding to first, second and third bases, are not in registrationwith the ball-ejecting fingers 101, the downward pressure of the cam 104upon the cam roller 103 will simply act through the extension 102 andpin 108 to pivot the quadrant 106 (counterclockwise, Figs. 3 and 4)against the action of the buffer spring 181, thus preventing thedownward pressure of the 1 cam 104 upon the cam roller-103 from breakingthe ball ejecting apparatus 97-98-99-101, etc., which might otherwiseoccur under the aforementioned circumstances.

Pivotally `mounted upon the pin 108 (Figs. 3 and 4) is a counierweight109. This counterweight 109 has an arm 110 which projects under alaterally extending arm 163 of the extension 102 so that if a playerattempts to operate the game apparatus fraudulently, by manipulating thesame up and down, the counterweight 109-will drop from full line todotted line position (Fig. 4) as soon as the apparatus is lifted fromits normal and proper position, thus causingthe arm 110 of thecounterweight 109 to lift upwardly against the arm 163. lThis actionraises the ejector 97 y and projects the fingers 101 thereof through thethree ball seat openings 42 in the disc 34 corresponding to first,second andthird bases, thereby dislodging any and all balls that theplayer may previously have played into these openings, and thus theplayer defeats his own purpose by attempting to operate the gameapparatus fraudulently bylifting the same up from its normal, operatingposition.

The ball magazine 112 opens at its lower end into a vertical ballguideway 113 which forms f a part of the ball-elevating device 161(Figs. 2

and 13). Working in this guideway 113 is a ball carrying or ball-seatingarm 114 of the ball elevator 161, the elevator 161 being pivotallymounted in the cabinet 13 below the inclined playing board 14, as at 115(Figs. 2 and 13).

The ball elevator 161 is pivotally connected to an arm 116 (Figs. 13 and14) of a slide rod 164 whichv is mounted in the .cabinet 13 below theplaying board 14, and by means of which the elevator 161 is operated tolift the balls one at a time from the magazine 112 tothe playing surface15.

The elevator-operating slide rod 164 is slidably projected through anopening 173 (Fig. 15) formed in a supporting arm 165 of the elevatorguideway 113 (Fig. 13). The slide rod 164 is also slidably projectedthrough a slot 175 in an arm 166 of a U-shaped member 118 (Figs. 1.3 to16 inclusive) which is carried by the main operating slide rod 117 forthe elevator 161, the member 118 being the medium by which the rod 164is operated by movement of the main operating rod 117 (Figs. 13 and 14).This slide rod 164 carries a spring 167, and when the main elevatoroperating slide rod 117 is pushed inwardly by the operator, the arm 166of the member 118 compresses the spring 167 and thereby moves the -therack bar 87 (counterclockwise, Fig. 3) into the position in which it isshown in Fig. 3, thus tensioning the spring 93, which when thustensioned tends to rotate the disc 34 (counterclockwise, Fig. 1), thedisc 34 being held against rotation, pending the seating of a b'all inthe home base opening or pocket 42 thereof, by the engagement of thepawl 83 with the pinion gear or ratchet 80.

Mounted on the bottom side of the playing board 114 and extendingtransversely thereof is a rock shaft 120 (Fig. 9) which has an angularlyextending end portion 121 (Figs. 1 and 9). Pivotally mounted, as at 122,upon the inner side of one side wall of the cabinet (Figs. 13 and 14) isa U-shaped elevator latching member -123 which has an arm 124 that isprojected into 'the path of movement of the auxiliary elevatoroperatingrod 164, by action of the end portion 121 of the rock shaft120, so as to latch the ballelevating device against further operationafter three outs have been registered on the ou registering dial 54.This is accomplished as follows When three outs have been registered onthe out registering dial 54, the dial 54 engages an angled end portion126 of the rock .shaft 120 (Fig. 4), thereby rocking the shaft arm 168of the latching stop member 123.r 'I'his pivots the latching stop member123 (counterclockwise, Fig. 13) into substantially horizontal,

position and disposes the arm 124 of the stop y member 123 in the pathof movement of the auxiliary elevator operating rod 164 so that thelatter can not be moved inwardly, thus'latching the ball elevator 161against operation and making it impossible to elevate a ball from themagazine 112 to the playing surface`15 after three outs have beenregistered on the out registering dial 54.

At the same time, the aforementioned movement of-the rock shaft(clockwise, Fig. 8) raises the end portion 148 of a stop arm'127, whichis formed as an integral extension of the shaft 120, up through a slot128 formed in the playing board 14 at the outlet of the hit runway 27,thus making it impossible for a ball to roll down the hit runway 27 ontothe disc 34 after three "outs have been registered on the outregistering dial 54.v

When the slidebar 61-64 is pushed inwardly, by operation of the coinsnee 62, the depending extension 66 of the slide bar .61 engages thelaterally extending arm 63 of the out register dial 54 (Fig. 4) andthereby rotates or resets the dial 54 (counterclockwise, Fig. 4) backinto zero position. This movement of the ou f register dial 54 releasesthe same from engagement with the arm 126 of rock shaft 120, whereupon aspring attached to the arm 127 of shaft 120 (Figs. 8 and 9) rotates thelatter (clockwise, Figs. 4 and 13, counterclockwise, Fig. 2), thuslifting the arm 121 of the shaft 120 out of engagement with the arm 168of the elevator latch or stop 123 whereupon the counterweighted endportion 124 of the stopmember 123 drops by gravity (into full lineposition, Figs. 2 and 13) out of the path of movement of the auxiliaryelevator'operating rod 164, thus freeing the ball elevating device 161for further operation. At the same time this movement of the rock shaft126 (counterclockwise, Fig. 8) withdraws the end portion 148 of the stoparm 127 thereof down into the slot 128 below the hit runway 27 so thatballs may again pass down the hit runway 27 onto the disc 34.

The present game apparatus alsoY includes a new tell-tale' device fordiscouraging fraudulent operation of the apparatus by tilting the same,a preferred form of the new tell-tale device being shown in detail inFigs. 5 and 6, and being generally indicated therein at 169. i'

The new tell-tale device 169 comprises a dial 170 having the word tiltedprinted thereon (Fig. 1) te indicate that the apparatus has been tiltedfrom its normal operating position. This dial 170 also has suitableindicia thereon to indicate that the apparatus is in its normal andproper operatingrpostion, these indicia on the dial 170 being visiblethrough a sight opening 129 that is formed in a housing 130 whichencloses the dial 170.

131 which is in turn pivotally mounted upon a shaft 132 (Fig. 5) in thehousing 130. Carried by the` frame 131 at Ythe lower end thereof is atransverse shaft 133 which extends through and works in, a cam slot 134that is formed in a latch member 135.

The latch member 135 is pivotally mounted, as at 136,7upon a supportingbracket 137 which is, in turn, mounted upon the inclined playing board14. This supporting bracket 137 has a horizontally extending shelfportion 138 which provides Va seat Vfor a tell-tale ball 139, and thisball 139 rests upon the ball seat 138-:when the game apparatus isdisposed in its proper operating position. However, if the playerattempts to operate'the game apparatus fraudulently by tilting orlifting the same from its normal and proper operating position, thetell-tale ball 39 will run 01T its seat 138 onto the head portion 140 ofa trip lever 141 which is pivotally mounted between its ends upon thesupporting bracket 137, as at 142 (Fig. 5). This movement of the ball139 Vonto the head 140 of the trip lever 141 pivots or rotates thelatter (counterclockwise, Fig. 5) into engagement with the latch member135, thereby pivoting the latch member 135 (counterclockwise, Fig. 5),thus releasing the latch pin 133 from engagement IWith the shoulderportion 144 of the latch member 135. A tensioned spring 143 then acts:upon the latch pin 133 to rotate the dial-170 (clockwise,

5) so as to bring the word tilted inscribed 'sight opening 129 untilanother coin of proper denomination is inserted into the coin apertureof the coin slide 62 and the latter is pushed inwardly to operate theslide bar 61-64.

The tell-tale ball 139 can not be reseated upon its seat 138 bymanipulating the cabinet 13 up and down or otherwise so that the dial170 is latched in position with the Word. tilted appear- The tell-taledial 170 is mounted upon a frameY ing through the sight opening 129until the coin slide'62 and the slide-bar 61--64 (Figs. 5 and 9) ridesunder the trip 141 (from dotted to full line position, Fig. 5) andpivots the trip 141 and its supporting shaft 142 (clockwise, Fig. 5),thereby 8| causing an arm 147 of the trip 141 to4 swing (clockwise,Figs. 5 and 6) into engagement with a ange 148 of the dial carriage 131,thus pivoting'the carriage 131 and the dial 170 (counterclockwise, Fig.5) back to theu initial and normal positions. At this time the latch pin133' engages against the shoulder 144 of the latch member 135 and thuslatches the carriage 131 and the dial 170 in their normal position inwhich the dialrindicates by a suitable indicium Ythrough. the sightopening 129 90 that the game apparatus is in proper operating position.

Operation In playing the new gaine apparatus, balls are projected one ata time around the ramp 16,Y from which they emerge at 17 ontothe'playing'- surface 15, whereupon they roll by gravity down theplaying surface l5 and may be deflected thereon, by the baffle pins 18and the rails 20 100 into `one of the out pockets 22 or 23; or into thestrike pocket 25 or ball pocket 26jY or, as is naturally thedesideratun", into the hit runway 27.

A ball entering either of the out pockets 22 105 or 23 drops immediatelytherethrough onto the head portion'47 of the out register operatingmember 42, thereby actuating the out register, whereupon the ball fallsonto'one of the bells 49 to actuate the audible signal and therebyinform the player that the ball hasfpassed through an out opening. n

At the same time this movement of the registerl operating member 47--48(clockwise, Figs. 7 and 8) rotates the shaft 52 and its attached es-`115 capement pawl 59, (clockwise, Fig. 5; counterclockwise Fig. 4),whereupon the tensioned spring 60 acts upon the arm 63 of the outregistering dial 54 to rotate the samerone step (clockwise, Fig. 4) soas to register thereon, and to indicate 120 through the sight opening55, that one out has i been charged against the player.

The action of a ball passing from either of the out openings 22Y and23'falling upon the head 47 of the register Yoperating member 48 alsoro- 125 tates the arm 67 of the member 48 (clockwise, from dotted tofull line position, Fig. 7) against the lateral extension 68 of thelatch member 36, whereupon the arm 67 exerts a camming and liftingaction upon the extension 68 of the latch 130 memberr36 and rotates thelatter (counterclockwise, Figs. 7 and 8, from dotted to full lineposition, Fig. 7) thus releasing the heel portion 38 of the latch member36 from engagement with the edge portion 39 of the pivoted trap or'platform 135 28 which then drops or pivots (from dotted to full lineposition Fig.7) under the weight of a ball or balls in the strike andball pockets 25 and 2o, respectively, and thus discharging any and allballs accumulatedrin the strike and ball pockets 25 and 26,respectively, into the ball runway 24, down which Vthe balls gravitateto the lower end or magazine portion 112 of the runway 24 for return bythe ball elevator 161 to the playing surface 15. After this operationthe trap 28 is `reset (back to horizontal, dotted line position, Fig. 7)by the action of its counterweighted end portion 152, andthe latchmember 36 is similarly reset by its counterweighted end portion154 sothat the-heel portion 38 of the latch 150 member 36 engages under theedge portion 39 of the platform 28 and supports the latter in horizontalposition; while at the same time the spring 150 resets the operatingmember 47--48 back to its initial position wherein it is stopped by astop arm 151 (Fig. 8).

As the out registering dial 54 moves into position (Fig. 4) to registerthe third out through the sight opening 25 it engages the arm 126 of therock shaft 120 and rotates the latter (counterclockwise, Figs. 4 and 9),thereby moving the varm 121 of the shaft 120 (from full to dotted lineposition, Fig. 13) down into engagement with the arm 168 of the elevatorlatching member 123 which is thus rotated (from full to dotted lineposition, Figs. 2 and 13) into horizontal position. This movement of theelevator latching member 123 disposes .the angled end portion 124thereof in the path of movement of the auxiliary elevator operating rod164 (Fig. 14) and thus prevents inward movement of the rod 164 andfurther operation of the ball elevating device 161 and its associatedparts including the main'slide rod 117, etc., since any attempt tooperate the ball elevator 161 by pushing inwardly upon the main elevatoroperating slide rod 117 will merely result ,in the inner end of theauxiliary rod 164 abutting the angled end portion 124 of the elevatorlatching member 123. This position of the parts is maintained and theball elevating device 161, etc., is thus positively and mechanicallylocked against further operation until a coin of proper denomination isinserted into the coin aperture of the coin slide 62 and the latter ispushed inwardly to operate the slide bar 61-'64.

The same movement of the rock shaft 120 and its arm 121 that positionsthe stops 123 and 124 in the path of the auxiliary elevator-operatingrod 164 also raises the upper end portion 148 of the arm 127 of the rockshaft 120 up through the. slot 128 into the hit runway 27so as toprevent balls from rolling down the "hit runway 27 onto the disc 34.

. lWhen the slide bar 6-1-64 is moved inwardlyl (left to right, Figs. 1and 9S right to left, Fig.4)

lby operation of the coin slide 62, the arm 66 of or zero position, atthe same' time tensioning the dial operating spring the dial 54 beinglatched against operation by the spring 60, pending the dropping of aball from one of the out openings 22 or 23 onto the actuating member47-48, by

the engagement of the pawl 59 with the ratchet 53.

As the dial 54 is thus reset back to zero position, it is move d out ofengagement with the end portion 126 of the shaft 120, whereupon thespring 125 rotates the shaft 120 (clockwise, Figs. 4 and 13) thus-moving the endportion 121 of the shaft 120 out of engagement with theend portion 168 of the elevator latching member 123 which thereuponrotates (clockwise, Fig. 13) under the action of-its counterweighted orunbalanced end portion 124, out of the path of movement of the auxiliaryelevator-operating rod 164, thus freeing the-ball elevator 161 forfurther operation. At the same time, this movement of the, shaft 120withdraws the upper endportion 148 of the arm 127 thereof out of the hitrunway 27 into the slot 128 (Fig. 8) so that balls may again pass downthe hit runway 27 onto the disc 34.

As has been stated hereinbefore, the strike vpocket .25 is made toaccommodate two balls so .that if a third vball attempts to enter thestrike pocket 25, it is deflected laterally-therefrom by the outer orsecond ball therein and passes into the ou opening 22.

The ball pocket 26 is made to accommodate three balls so that if Aafourth ball attempts to enter the ball pocket 26, it is'deectedlaterally therefrom by the outermost or. third ball therein and passesaround the end of one of the side rails 35 of the hit runway 27 into thelatter, whence it travels down the runway 27 onto the disc 34.

A ball rolling down the hit runway 27 runs over the c ounterweightedheel portion 153 of the platform or trap 28 (Fig. 7), thence passes overthe bridge 31 and engages the trip portion 40 of the latch member 36, soas to drop the platform 28 and clear the strike and out pockets, thebridge 31 preventing the ball from dropping back and falling down withthe platform 28 as it engages the trip' portion 40 of the latch member36.

After having passed over the bridge 31 and the trip portion 40 of thelatch member 36, the ball continues down the hit runway 27 and emergestherefrom onto the disc 34 whereon it is stopped by the member43(Fig. 1) and lodges in that ball seat opening 42 in the disc 34 whichcorresponds to home base; the disc 34 always being stopped in such aposition that one of the ball seat openings 42 is disposed at the outletor lower end of the hit runway 27 so as to receive the ball passing fromthe hit runway 27 onto the disc 34; this positioning of the home baseball seat opening 42 in the disc 34 at the outlet of the hit runway 27being assuredby the engagement of the radially outer end portion of thelatch member 71 against the lateral side of one of the four stops 155that are formed 90 apart on the bottom of the disc 34 (Figs. 11 and 12).

When a balllodges in the home base ball seat opening 42 in the disc 34,it engages the radially outer end portion of the latch member 71disposed thereunder, and pivots said portion down below, and out of thepath of, the stops 155,' (into full line position, Fig. 11). Thismovement of the latch member 71 raises the radially inner andcounterweighted end portion 73 thereof up onto the adjacent latch keeperVmember or cam 74, whereupon the tensioned operating spring 93 rotatesthe disc 34 (counter-clockwise, Fig. 1).

This rotation ofthe disc 34 continues, and the ball 33 is advancedthereby around the diamond as long as the inner end portion 73 of the'latch member 71 is held in a raised position by the underlying cam orlatch keeper 7.4,` and the circumferential length of the cam 74determines .the length of time the inner end portion 73 of the latchmember 7l is held in a raised position and consequently the length oftime the outer` end portion of the latch member 71 is held depressedbelow and out of the path of the stops 155. It will therefore be seenthat the circumferential lengths of the cams or latch keepers 74determines the duration of rotation and the circumferential distancetraveled by the disc 34, and therefore the scoring value in terms ofbases, made by a ball when it passes from the hit runway 27 onto thedisc 34. When the underlying cam or latch keeper 74 passes away fromvthe counterweighted inner end portion 73 of the latch member 71, thesaid inner end portion drops by gravity (into dotted line position, Fig.1,1) and Vthereby raises the outer end portion thereof up into the pathof the approaching stop 155 so as to stop advanced and converted intoterms of runs, the balls are raised up out of their ball seat openings42, as they approach the home base position, by an ejector member 159(Figs. 3 and 12) which is stationarily mounted below the disc 34,adjacent the home base position, upon the support 160; and the ballsthus ejected from the ball seat openings 42 are swept 01T the disc 34 bythe sweep 156 (Fig. 1) and are prevented from running downwardly overthe disc 34, toward the lower end of the playing board, by the arm 44(Fig. 1). The balls thus converted into terms of scores and swept offthe disc 34 roll downwardly toward the lower end of the playing board14, by way of the passages 174 (Fig. 1), and pass into an exit openingor run pocket 157 (Figs. 1 and 9) formed in the lower end portion of theplaying board 14, wherein they are held in full View of the player, sothat they may be counted, by the transverse portion 64 of the slide bar6l. The balls thus scoring runs are held in the pocket 157 until thecoin slide 62 and slide bar 61-64 are pushed inwardly, whereuponthescoring balls drop out of the run pocket 157 into the ball runway 24 andreturn to the magazine portion 112 thereof.

The force of the tensioned spring 93 is transmitted to the disc 34, soas to rotate the latter, as follows: through the rack 87-88-89, to theratchet or pinion gear 80, and thence by way of the pawl 83 and disc81-82 to the vertical bearing shaft 78, upon which the disc 34 ismounted; it being noted that during rotation of the shaft 78 and thedisc 34 the speed reducing star gear 79 rotates in mesh with the gear 75so as to rotate the latter end of its integral cams or latch keepers 74relatively slowly and successively under the raised inner end portion 73of the latch member 71; the cams or latch keepers 74 being of differentcircumferential lengths so that the circumferential distance the disc 34will travel each time it is released or unlatched and actuated variesdirectly as the circumferential lengths of the cams or latch keeper 74.Hence a ball entering the home base opening 42 in the disc 34 may resultin a single, a two base hit, a three base hit, or a home run, dependingupon the circumferential lengths of the members 74 and their arrangementrelative to each other upon the upper surface of gear 75; it being notedin this connection that the gear 75 is provided, in the presentinstance, with 21 peripheral teeth which are so associated with the fourtoothed speed reducing star gear 79 that one revolution of the gear 75is equivalent to five and a quarter revolutions of the disc 34 and gear79.

Moreover, by reason of the fact that the circumferential lengths and thearrangement and number of the latch keepers or cams 74 formed on thegear 75 may be varied within wide limits, it is possible for the playerto score in succession a two, three, or fourbase hit and between any twoof these a single, the number and lengths of the latch keepers or cam'snot being limited to the specific number and arrangement shown. Thisvariety of combinations of hits is not possible in the prior art gameapparatuses in which the succession of base hits has always beenIprogressive from one to four because of the gradual curvature of theelliptical cam used for holding the disc-latching means in ineffectiveposition. This factor adds fascination to playing the game, particularlybecause of the fact that the player can not see the mechanism by whichthe scoring value of his hits, in terms of bases and the successionthereof, is determined.

The spring 93 which operates the disc 34 is tensioned by inward movementof the main elevator-operating slide rod 117, inward movement of whichcauses the arm 166 of member 118 to engage the offset end portion 119 ofthe rack bar 87 (Fig. 14), thereby pivoting the rack bar 87(counterclockwise, Fig. 3) into the position in which it is shown inFig, 3. During this spring-tensioning operation the pinion gear orratchet is rotated, relative to and upon the shaft 78,(counterclockwise, Fig. 10) and is prevented from retroactive movement(clockwise, Fig. 10) by engagement of the dog 83 therewith. However,when a ball enters the home base opening or pocket 42 and pivots theunderlying portion of the latch member 71 downwardly below, and out ofthe path of, the stops 155, the tensioned spring 93 acts upon the rackbar 87 to pivot the latter (clockwise, Fig. 3), whereupon the pinion 80is rotated (clockwise, Fig. 10; counterclockwise, Fig. 3). This rotationof the pinion 80 acts through the disc 83 to rotate the supporting disc82, shaft 78, and star gear 79, (counterclockwise, Fig. 3), thus causingthe disc 34 to rotate (counterclockwise, Fig. 3) and the gear 75 torotate clockwise (Fig. 3)

Any balls that remain in the three ball seat openings 43 that correspondto first, second, and third bases, at the end of a game are dislodgedtherefrom by the ejector 97 as follows: When the coin slide 62 andoperating slide bar 61-64 engages the cam roller 103, it depresses thelatter, thereby pivoting the ejector 97 (counterclockwise, Fig. 4) uponits pivots 108 and 159, and thus projecting the fingers 101 of theejector 97 through the three corresponding ball seat openings 42 todislodge the balls therefrom whereupon these balls roll olf the disc 34down the runways 171 into the run pocket 157 for return to the runway 24and the magazine 112 and elevator 161.

It is to be noted that in playing the present game apparatus the playermay, for example, make a single, a two base hit, then a homerun, andthen a three base hit, depending upon which latch cam 74 is holding thelatch member 71 in released or ineffective position. so that theapparatus does not produce a series of base hits in arithmeticalprogression which can be ascertained in advance by the player, as incertain of the prior art game apparatuses. Hence the present apparatuspossesses a greater element of uncertainty and hasmore fascination forthe player than the prior art game apparatuses of a similar nature.

Formed as an integral part of the ball elevator 161 and workingin thevertical ball elevator guideway 113, above the ball seat portion 114 ofthe elevator 161, is a stop arm 176 (Fig. 13) This stop arm 176 preventsthe operator of the game apparatus from fraudulently elevating a ballfrom the seat 114 of the elevator 161 to the ramp 16 by means of ashort, sudden blow upon the elevator operating rod 117, since, while bysuch action the player might dislodge a ball from the elevator seat 114,the ball thus dislodged will engage the arm 176 which will prevent thesaid ball thus dislodged from the seat 114 of the lift 161 from beingprojected up the guideway 113 far enough to enter into the ramp 16.Hence a full stroke of the elevator 161 is necessary to elevate a ballto the ramp 16.

Extending transversely across the inclined playing board 14 below thelatter and having one end rotatably journaled in the vertical elevator15g guideway member 113 is a transverse rock shaft 177 (Figs. 1, 2, 13,and 14). This rock shaft 1'17 has an end portion 178 (Figs. 1 and 2)which projects upwardly into the path of, and so as to be engaged by,the inner end of the coin slide 62 when the latter is pushed inwardly.At its other end the rock shaft 177 has a hook-shaped cutoff arm 179(Fig. 13) which works in the elevator groove or guideway 113.

When the coin slide 62 is pushed inwardly, (left to right, Figs. l and2) its inner end engages the arm 178 of the rock shaft 177 and therebyrotates the latter (counterclockwse, Fig. 13), thus elevating thecut-off arm 179 of the rock shaft 177 and projecting the same across themouth or lower end of the ball magazine 112, in which position the cut-oarm 179 prevents the balls in the magazine 112 from entering theelevator guideway 113 until the coin slide 62 is retracted, whereupon aresetting spring 180 attached to the cut-off arm 179 rotates the rockshaft 177 (clockwise, Fig. 13) and thus retracts the cut-off arm 179below the mouth or lower end of the magazine 112 so that the balls mayrun from the magazine 112 into the elevator guideway 113 and be lifted,one at a time, by the elevator 161 to the ramp 16 in front of thepropelling device 19.

The cut-01T arm 179 prevents the operator of the game apparatus fromoperating the same fraudulently and continuously which he mightotherwise do by holding in the coin slide 62, which would permit theoperator to effect a continuous circulation of lthe balls by'gravityfrom the run pocket 157 into the runway 24 and thence to the magazineportion 112 of the latter and to the elevator guideway 113.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without departing from the spirit of theinvention. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precisedetails of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of suchvariations and modifications as come within the scope of the appendedclaims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a member providing a playingsurface and having ball exit openings therein; a ball runway below saidplaying surface in communication with said exit openings; means forelevating balls on'e at a time from said runway to said playing surface;a registering device for registering the number of balls passing fromsaid exit openings to, said runway; means arranged below said exitopenings and actuated by balls passing therethrough into said runway tooperate said registering device; and means actuated by said registeringdevice to latch said ball-elevating means against further operationafter a predetermined number 4of balls have passed through said exitopenings into said runway and have been registered by said registeringdevice.

2. In a game apparatus, the combination of a member providing a playingsurface and having ball exit openings therein; means for elevating ballsone at a time from a point below said ball exit openings to said playingsurface including a slidable operating member; and means actuated byballs passing through said ball exit openings to latch said slidableoperating member against further operation after a predetermined numberof balls have passed through said exit openings.

3. In a game apparatus, the combination of a member providing a playingsurface having a ball exit opening therein; means for elevating balls,one at a time, from a point below said exit opening to said playingsurface; a registering device for registering the number of ballspassing through said exit openings; means actuated by balls droppingthrough said exit opening to operate said registering device;l and meansactuated by said registering device to prevent further operation of saidelevating means after a predetermined number of balls have droppedthrough said exit opening and have been registered by said registeringdevice.

4. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a member providing a playingsurface having ball exit openings therein; means for elevating balls oneata time from a point below said exit openings to said playing surface;said elevating means including a slidable operating rod; a registeringdevice for registering the number of balls passing through' said exitopenings; means actuated by balls dropping through said exit openingsto' operate said registering device; and means actuated by saidregistering device to prevent further operation of said slidableoperating rod after a predetermined number of balls have dropped throughsaid exit openings and have been registered by said registering device.

5. In a game apparatus, the combination of l: a rotatable disc having anannular row of ball seats formed therein; said disc being provided uponits lower surface with an annular row of stop members; means tending torotate said disc; a latch member having a portion depressed by a balldisposed in one of said ball seats out of the path of said stop members,but normally co-acting with the latter to latch said disc againstoperation by said rotating means; and 'a member rotatably mounted belowsaid disc and having formed therein an annular roW of latching cams andsaid cams co-acting at different times with said latch member to retainthe latter in ineffective position for a said stop members so as topermit said disc to.

rotate a corresponding circumferential distance.

6. In a game apparatus, the .combination of: a member providing aplaying surface having a rotatable disc arranged therein; said dischaving an annular row of stop members upon its lower surface and beingprovided with an annular row of ball seats; a ball runway upon the saidplaying surface for directing balls, one at a time, onto said disc andsuccessively into said ball seats; means tending to rotate the saiddisc; means actuated by a ball in one of said ball seats normallyco-acting with said stop members to latch said disc against operation bysaid rotating means; and means co-acting with said ball-actuated meansto retain the latter in ineifective position out of the path of saidstop members for a predetermined length of time after each actuationthereof.

7. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a member providing a playingsurface; a rotatable disc having an annular row of ball seats formedtherein and having an annular row of stop members upon its lowersurface; means tending to rotate said disc; a member arranged below'said disc and moved by a ball disposed in one of said seats out of thepath of said stop members butl y normally co-acting with a correspondingone of said stop members to latch said disc against the action of saidrotating means; and an annular row of cams upon the lower surface ofsaid disc; said cams serving to hold said latch member ineffectiveposition and out of the path of said stop members for different periodsof time.

8. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a rotatable disc having anannular row of ballreceiving pockets formed therein; means tending torotate said disc; andmeans latching said discV against rotation by saidrotating means; said latching means including a member arranged belowsaid disc and moved into ineffective position by the weight of a balldisposed in one of said pockets so as to permit said disc to rotateunder the action of said rotating means. Y

9. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a rotatable disc having anannular row of ballreceiving pockets formed therein; means tending torotate said disc; means normally latching said disc against rotation bysaid rotating means; said latching means including a pivotal latchingmember arranged below said disc and released from latching engagementtherewith and 'moved into ineiective position by the weight of a balldisposed in one of said pockets so as to permit said disc to rotateunder the action of said rotating means; and independent meansretainingsaid pivotal latching member in ineiective position fordifferent and predetermined periods of time after the release of thesame by balls successively entering into different ones of said pocketsso as to permit said disc to rotate corresponding and differentcircumferential distances.

10. In a game apparatus, the combination of a rotatable disc having anannular row of ballreceiving pockets formed therein; means tending torotate said disc; means normally latching said disc against rotation bysaid rotating mears; said latching means including a member releasedfrom latching engagement withY said disc and, moved into ineffectiveposition by the weight of a ball disposed in one of said pockets so asto permit said disc to rotate under the action of said rotating means;and independent means arranged'below said disc and co-acting with saidlatching member to retain the same in ineffective position for differentperiods of time.

11. In a gaine apparatus, the combination of: a rotatable disc providedwith an annular row of ball receiving seats or pockets; means forrotating said disc; means normally latching said disc in stoppedposition against the action of said rotating means; means arranged belowsaid disc including Velements projectible into said pockets to eject'balls therefrom when said disc is in stopped position; and means foroperating said ejecting means.

12. In a game apparatus, the combination of: a rotatable disc providedwith an annular row of ball receiving seats or pockets; means forrotating said disc; means normally latching said disc in stoppedposition against the action of said rotating means; means arranged belowsaid disc including elements projectible into said pocketswto ejectballs therefrom when said disc is'in stopped position; and means foroperating said ejecting means to project said elements into said pocketsso as to dislodge said balls therefrom when and if said apparatus istilted out of its normal and proper operating position.

13. A game apparatus comprising the combination of: a cabinet andmechanisms therein; means for operating said mechanisms; means forresetting said mechanisms and operating means therefor after operationthereof; a dial bearing indicia toY indicate at different times thatsaid cabinet and said mechanisms therein are in their normal and properoperating position or have been tilted therefrom; a telltale ball; meansactuated by the said telltale ball, when said cabinet is tilted from itsnormal operating position, to latch said dial in position to indicatethat the said cabinet has been tilted from its normal operatingposition; and means coacting with saidVY resetting means for resetting nsaid ball into its normal position and the said dial into position toindicate that the cabinet is in its normal and proper operatingposition.

14. In a game apparatus, the combination of s' a member providing aplaying surface and hav- Ying ballY exit openings therein; means forpropelling balls one at a time onto said playing surface; a-runwayarranged below said playing sur'-Y 115 face and in communication withsaid exit openings; means for elevating balls one at a time from saidrunway tor-said playing surface, including a vertical ball elevatorguideway and a ball elevator member having a ball seat portionvertically movable in said guideway; said elevator having a stop armmovable vertically in said guideway above said ball seat portion thereoftoi prevent'a ball from being forcibly ejected 12 from'said seat portiononto said playing surface by less than a full upward stroke of said ballelevator. DAVID C. ROCKOLA.

